Bottle labeling machine



Feb.. 1`, 1938. J. o FENNER 2,106,997

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1953 4 sheets-sheet 1 s@ @www Feb. 1, 1938. J. QFENNER BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Filed July ll, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 me/nto@ Feb. l, 1938.

J. O. FENNER BOTTLE LABELING MAGHNE Filed July ll, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 61H0: nu? s Feb. l, 1938. J. o. FENNER BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1933 4fSheets-Sheet 4 dbborneq s Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Economic Machinery Company, Worcester,

Mass., a corporation oi' Massachusetts a Application July 11, 1933, Serial No. 679,959

17 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bottle labeling machines, and deals particularly with a type of apparatus which is commonly known in the art as spot- 6 ting. It is highly desirable that the labels or other advertising matter be affixed to the surface of the bottle or container in a predetermined position, so that said goods may be arranged for display in a more uniform and pleasing manner.

'I'his is particularly true in cases where the container is of the jug type with a mouth and handle thereon, or a pail or bucket in which case the container is provided with bail ears and a carrying handle. The label in such instancesl should be placed uniformly on the' containers with respect to the protuberances or projecting parts thereon, so that said goods may be more pleasingly arranged in window advertising schemes or positioned on shelves for display purposes.

The main object of the present invention resides in the novel manner of feeding the article to be labeled into the machine in a predetermined set position so that the label or other advertising medium that is to be subsequently applied will be uniformly aflixed thereon.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rotating turret which is adapted to shift and feed the containers in a given position to the labeling table or machine.

A still further object resides in the novel manner of permitting slippage of the container while on the turret after the container has once assumed the given set position.

These and other objects will readily present themselves to those skilled in this particular art,

when the following description is read in connection with the attached drawings, and I deem it within my rights to make certain changes in the construction shown without departing from the spirit of my invention. The scope of protection will be apparent from the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is atop plan view showing the rotating turret and a fragmentary portion of the rotatlng labeling table;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the rotating turret showing one of the containers or jars in frictional contact with the wall surrounding a portion of the turret; A

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the gripper element mounted beneath the rotary labeling table,

the latter being shown in section;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the gripper element;I and Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the gripper element in its lowered or inoperative position. 5

Referring more in detail to the drawings, I indicates a conveyor of any conventional type for introducing the jars or containers into the rotating turret generally designated at 2. This turret 2 consists of a central hub or body portion 10 3 with relatively spaced members 4 4. The members 4 4 are provided with registering re' cesses or pockets 5 5 for a partial reception of the bottle, jar, or other container to be handled in the labeling operation. Suitable bearing mem- 15 bers or rollers 6 6 are provided and positioned' within the pockets 5 5 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

In order to conne the containers within the inlet side, to its delivery point with a curved wall,

A"one part of which is stationary as at 1, and the remaining portion being yieldable as at 48. The yieldable portion is pivotally mounted as at 9 to a lever I0 which in turn is pivotally secured at II to a stationary portion of the frame work of the machine. The yieldable wall 8 is pivotally connectedv at I2 to a crank lever I3 which is pivoted at I4 to an outstanding arm or bracket. I5. In order to apply the necessary tension to the yield- 30 able side wall 8, a contractile spring I6 is anchored at one end as at Il and has its opposite end connected to the freel end of the crank lever I3. 'Ihe crank lever I3 is also provided with an adjustable screw or bolt I8 which is adapted to 35 coact with a stationary abutment such as I9 to limit the inward position of the yieldable wall portion B. On top of the turret and adjacent the face of each pocket 5 5, there is pivotally mounted a 40 catch or dog 20 one end of which has an angular offset 2| and the opposite ends carrying a cylindrical roller or Wheel 22. In order to hold the pivoted dog 20 in its operative position, there is provided a contractile spring 23. This spring is 45 anchored at one end to an upstanding pin or lug 24 on the turret and is attached at its opposite end as at 25 to the roller end of the catch or dog 20. The spring tension on the dog 20 is governed by a stop screw 26 which is adjustable |50A for the purpose of limiting the inward movement of the dog 20 in accordance with the size of the article being handled.

` A cam plate 21 is mounted adjacent the outlet of the turret, that is, where the container is to be delivered from the turret to the labeling table and is adapted to contact with the roller end of the dog 23 during the rotating movements of the turret 2. This cam plate is longitudinally slotted as at 23-28 to receive the fastening bolts or screws 29-29 and may be adjusted to trip the dogs'2ll in accordance with the desired operation.

'I'he operation of the machine, thus far described, will be as follows:

As the containers, which in the present lnstance, are shown as a pivoted lever locking type, are presented to the turret, they are individually received in the pockets and restA against the rollers therein. As the turret revolves, the outer surface of the container contacts with the surrounding curved wall, which at the entry portion and for a substantial distance inward therefrom, is sufciently spaced to cause little or no action on the container other than a retaining means. As the container comes in contact with the yielding wall portion, a more positive or frictional contact is encountered and the container will freely rotate within the pocket until the ball or other projecting part comes in contact with the angular nosel of the pivoted dog. When this occurs the container is in the proper position to receive its label or other advertising matter and it is delivered to the labeling table for the label amxing operation. I.

After the container has been delivered to the labeling table and during its transit to the first labeling station, there may be a tendency for the container to shift from its given set position and to overcome this there is provided a supplemental grip finger which comes into action immediately after the container is set upon the rotating table.

Arranged beneath the rotating table 30 at each bottle carrying station thereon is a block or casting 3l which is securely fastened to the`under side of said table by bolts 32-32. This block 3| is provided with a lower bearing 33 for the pivotal mounting of a lever 34 and an upper bearing 35 in which a lever with a long arm 36 and a short arm 31 is pivotally secured. A link 38 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the short arm 31 and at its lower end to the lever 3|. A grip finger 33 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the forward end of the long arm 36,

through the medium of a pin and slot connection, and is adapted to be projected above the surface of the table, as in Figure 3, or retracted below the same as in Figure 5, in accordance with the action of the link and leverage mechanism just described. The block or casting is further provided 'i with a slotted or cut out portion lll for the rewhich a pin I3 is slidably mounted. 'I'he pin has a headed end M and an. expansible spring is mounted on the pin between the lug 42 and the headed end M. 'Ihe opposite end of the pin 43 is screw threaded for the reception of a nut I6 by which means the tension on the grip arm may be adjusted if desired. The purpose of this loose, but tensioned connection of the grip finger is to permit the nger to have its" proper 81112D1118 BC- tion under ordinary operating conditions and also mands. The raising or lowering of the grip finger is accomplished by providing a roller I1 on.

position.

'I'he operation of this grip finger comes into play immediately after the container has been delivered to the table from the revolving turret and grasps the container to hold it in its set position until the bottle labeling instrumentalities start in their successive operation.

What I claim is:

1. In a labeling machine including a labeler and means for feeding articles thereinto, the combination of an article feeding turret, a wall adjacent the turret and having a movable section thereon, means for yieldably maintaining said wall section in an inward position and a stop for limiting said movement, said movable section arranged to frictionally contact and turn the articles as they are carried by the turret and means on the turret for arresting rotation of said articles when in a predetermined position so that said articles are uniformly presented to the said labeler.

2. In a labeling machine including a labeler and means for feeding articles thereinto, the combination of an. article feeding mechanism to present the articles to said labeler, means associated with the article feeding mechanism for successively arranging the articles in a denite and uniform facial position and means for retaining the set position of the articles for presentation to said labeler.

3. In a labeling machine including a labeler and a movable table or support for progressively presenting the articles to the several labeling instrumentalities, in combination with an article feeding mechanism wherein the articles are successively arranged in a deinite and uniform facial position prior to their entry on to the movable table or support and means on said table or sup- .port for maintaining said articles in their set position for presentation to said labeler. Y

4. In a labeling machine including a labeler and a movable table or support for progressively presenting the articles to the several labeling instrumentalities, in combination with an article feeding mechanism wherein the articles are successively arranged in a definite and uniform facial position prior to their entry on to the movable table or support and means carried by the table for gripping the opposite sides of the articles, thereby maintaining said articles in their set position for presentation to said labeler.

5. In a labeling machine including a labeler and a movable table or support for progressively presenting the articles to the several labeling instrumentalities, in combination with an article feeding mechanism wheren the articles are successively arranged in a definite and uniform facial position prior to their entry on to the movable table or support and means carried by the table for gripping the opposite sides of the articles,

thereby maintaining said articles in their set position for presentation t'o said labeler, and means for releasing the gripping action on the articles at the beginning of the labeling operation.

6. In a labeling machine including a labeler and a movable table or support for progressively presenting the articles to the several labeling tov instrumentalities, in combination with an article feeding mechanism wherein the articles are successively arranged in a definite and uniform facial position prior to their entry on to the movable table or support, a recessed abutment on the table for receiving the articles from-the feeding mechanism and a. pivoted grip finger adapted to be actuated tohold the articles in their set position for presentation to said labeler.

7. In a labeling machine including a labeler and'means for feeding articles thereinto, the combination of an article feeding turret, a wall adjacent the turret and having a movable section thereon, means for yieldably maintaining said wall section in an inward position and an adjustable stop for limiting said movement, said movable section arranged to frictionally contact and turn the articles as they are carried by the turret and means on the turret for arresting rotation of said articles when in a predetermined position so that said articles are uniformly presented to said labeler.

8. A labeling machine comprising a table rotatable about a vertical axis, brackets mounted on the upper surface of the table, means to deliver articles to the brackets, a. picker mechanism to apply labels to the articles as they revolve with the table, label grippers 'movable into position to hold the labels against the articles and at the same time hold the articles in the brackets, a gripping device mounted on the table adjacent to each bracket, and means to actuate each gripping device and thereby clamp each article in its bracket before the corresponding label gripper has operated with respect thereto.

9. A labeling machine comprising a table rotatable about a vertical axis, V-shaped brackets mounted on the upper surface of the table and o-pen in the direction oi.' travel, means to deliver articles to the brackets, a picker mechanism to apply a label to the front surface of each article as it revolves with the table, label grippers movable'into position to hold the labels against the articles and at the same time hold the articles in the brackets, a gripping device mounted on the table adjacent to each bracket, and means to actuate each gripping device and thereby clamp each article in its bracket before the corresponding label gripper has operated with respect thereto.

10. A labeling machine comprising a table rotatable about a vertical axis, V-shaped brackets mounted on the upper surface of the table and open in the direction of travel, means to deliver articles to the brackets, a picker mechanism to apply a label to the front surface oi each article as it revolves with the table, label grippers movable into position to hold the labels against the articles and at the same time hold the articles in the brackets, the label grippers being spaced upwardly from the bottoms of the articles when in operative position, a gripping device mounted on the table adjacent to each bracket, and means to move each gripping device into engagement with the front surface of each article near the bottom thereof before the corresponding label gripper has operated with respect thereto.

11. A labeling machine comprising a table rotatable about a vertical axis, V-shaped brackets mounted on the upper surface of. the table and open in the direction of travel, means to deliver articles to the brackets, a picker mechanism to apply a label to the front surface of each article as it revolves with the table, label grippers movable into-position to hold the labels against the articles and at the same time hold the articles in thebrackets, the label grippers being spaced upwardly from the bottoms of the articles when in operative position, a gripping device pivotally mounted on'the table beneath each bracket and arranged to swing in av substantially vertical plane, each gripping device being adapted to engagethe front surface of an article near the bottom thereof and clamp the article against the corresponding bracket, and a. stationarycam beneath the table to actuate the gripping devices and swing each device into engagement with the article before the corresponding label gripper has operated with respect thereto.

12. A labeling machine comprising a table rotatable about a vertical axis, V-lshaped brackets mounted on the upper surface of the table and open inthe direction of, travel, means to deliver articles to the brackets, a picker mechanism to apply a label to the front surface of each article as it revolves with the table, labelv grippers movable into position to hold the labels against the articles and-at the same time hold the articles in the brackets, the label grippers being spaced upwardly from the bottoms of the articles when in operative position, a lever pivotally connected to the lower side of the table about a substantially horizontal axis beneath each bracketya finger yieldably mounted on the front end of each lever and arranged to engage the front surface of an article near the bottom thereof and clamp the article against the corresponding bracket, and a stationary cam beneath the table to actuate the levers and cause each nger to engage the corresponding article before the corresponding label gripper has moved into operative position.

13. A labeling machine comprising a table rotatable about a vertical axis, V-shaped brackets mounted on the upper surface of the table and open in the direction of travel, means to deliver articles to the brackets, a picker mechanism to apply a label to the front surface of each article as it revolves with the table, label grippers movable into position to hold the labels against the articles and at the same time hold the articles in the brackets, the label grippers being spaced upwardly from the bottoms of the articles when in operative position, a lever pivotally connected to the lower side of the table about a substantially horizontal axis beneath each bracket, a finger yieldably mounted on the front end of each lever and arranged to engage the front surface of an article near the bottom thereof and clamp the article against the corresponding bracket, a second lever connected to each lever at the rear thereof and pivoted to the lower side of the table about a substantially horizontal axis, and a stationary cam beneath the table to actuate the second levers and cause each finger to engage the corresponding article before the corresponding label gripper has moved into operative position.

14.` A labeling machine comprising a table rotatable about a vertical axis, brackets Vmounted on the upper surface ofthe table, a gripping device pivotally mounted on the table adjacent to each bracket, each gripping device being adapted to clamp an article against the corresponding bracket, and mechanism for swinging the gripping devices about their pivots and into engagementwith the articles for holding the articles in position for presentation to a labeling operation.

15. A labeling machine comprising a table rotatable about a axis, brackets mounted on the upper surface o i' the table, a gripping device pivotally mounted on the lower side of the table beneath each' bracket and arranged to swing in a substantially vertical plane. each gripping device being adapted to engle the front summe at an article and clamp it against the corresponding bracket, and a stationary cam beneath the table to actuate -the gripping devices and swing them into engagement with the articles for holding the articles in position for presentation to a labeling operation.

i6. A labeling machine comprising a rotary table. brackets on the table amused to support articles during the labeling operation, a lever pivotally connected to the lower side oi the table about a substantially horizontal axis beneath'each bracket, a `i'lngex yieldably mounted on the front end of each lever and arranged to engage the iront surface of an article and clamp it against the corresponding bracket. and a staticnarycambeneaththetabletoactuatethe levers and cause the lingers to engage the articles for holding the articles in position for presentation to a labeling operation.

17. A labeling machine comprising a rotary table. a v-shaped bracket on the table arranged to support an article during the labeling operation, a lever pivotslly connected to the lower side of the table about a substantially horizontal axis beneath said bracket, a linger yieldably mounted on the front end oi said lever and arranged to engage the front surface oi' an article and clamp it against the corresponding bracket. a second lever connected to said lever at the rear thereof and pivoted to the lower side of the table about a substantially horizontal axis. and a stationary cam beneath the table to actuate the second lever and cause the linger to engage the article for holding the article inposition for presentation to a labeling operation.

im O. FENNER. 

